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28 Days Later: How Real Fear Shaped a Modern Horror Classic

It’s not a zombie film, but it redefined the genre. With 28 Years Later on the horizon, we’re looking back at the one that started it all: 28 Days Later. Why does it still feel so hauntingly relevant? And what real-world fears, from post-9/11 panic to foot-and-mouth disease, helped shape this modern horror classic?

Next week, we continue the story with 28 Weeks Later.

Obey and Consume: The Dystopia of They Live

In this episode, we slip on the sunglasses and see the world as it really is in John Carpenter’s They Live — a cult classic that mashes up anti-capitalist dystopia with cheesy one-liners and 80s action flair. We break down the film’s sharp social commentary on consumerism, class control, and media manipulation, all wrapped in the glorious absurdity of a B-grade sci-fi beatdown.

From six-minute alley fights to secret alien cabals, They Live might just be the smartest dumb movie ever made. Tune in as we explore what makes this film a timeless piece of rebellious pulp cinema.

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This episode takes a deep dive into Battle Royale (2000), the controversial cult classic that shocked Japan and the world. We explore how the film’s dystopian violence serves as a metaphor for Japan’s youth crisis of the 1990s - a time marked by economic stagnation, rising truancy, youth alienation, and public anxiety over juvenile crime.

Through the lens of “The Program,” we examine how the state’s control over teenagers reflects a broader fear of a lost generation, societal breakdown, and the pressures of conformity. Join us as we unpack the lasting impact of Battle Royale and its chilling relevance today.

Looking Back, Looking Forward

We spent this week talking about Harlan Ellison’s Repent, Harlequin! Said the Ticktockman. It is a chaotic little story about time, rebellion and what it costs to resist. It got us thinking about how much of our own lives are ruled by schedules and how easily we accept them. The conversation ended up going from jellybeans to industrial revolutions to Breaking Bad and somehow it all made sense in the end.

Next week we are switching gears but sticking with dystopia. Demolition Man takes us into a shiny sanitized future where swearing is illegal, physical contact is banned and everything dangerous or uncomfortable has been scrubbed away. It is pure 90s action but it is also a weirdly sharp critique of control and safety culture.

New Episode Out Now: Repent, Harlequin! Said the Ticktockman

What happens when a society is so obsessed with punctuality that being late is a crime? And what happens when one chaotic figure decides to fight back with jellybeans?

Our new episode dives into Harlan Ellison’s Repent, Harlequin! Said the Ticktockman. We talk about rebellion, time anxiety, the 1960s counterculture, and why this strange, whimsical story still hits hard today. Expect tangents on Breaking Bad, history, and why meetings make us miserable.

What Would You Do With Your Time?

Imagine living in a world where being late is illegal. Not just frowned upon but punishable. Every second of your life tracked, every heartbeat counted, and someone always watching the clock.

Would you follow the rules? Or would you throw jellybeans at the system?

This Thursday on Dystopedia we are looking at Harlan Ellison’s Repent, Harlequin! Said the Ticktockman. It is chaotic, playful, and angrier than it first appears. We are talking about time, rebellion, and what it costs to resist.

Time, Jellybeans, and Total Rebellion

Last week we talked about Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery and how scary it is when people follow tradition without thinking.

This Thursday we are looking at Harlan Ellison’s Repent, Harlequin! Said the Ticktockman. It is a story about a world obsessed with punctuality where being late is literally a crime and one chaotic figure, the Harlequin, fights back by throwing jellybeans at the system.

We will get into Ellison’s hatred of the 9 to 5 grind, why the story feels so strange to read, and how its 1960s counterculture energy still feels relevant now. There are also tangents about Breaking Bad, time anxiety, and why meetings drive us mad.

🎙️ New Episode: The Lottery – Obedience Without Question

This week on Dystopedia, we go back to 1948 and take a closer look at Shirley Jackson’s chilling short story, The Lottery.

It’s deceptively simple. And that might be the most frightening part.

A story about tradition, obedience, and the quiet horror of following the rules without question. It’s uncomfortable, unsettling, and it leaves you wondering what we are all capable of under the right conditions.

In this episode, we explore:

Cold War paranoia and social conformity

Gender roles and women’s inequality

The psychology of obedience

The dark comfort of tradition

🎧 Listen now on your favorite podcast app.